Cross-folding machine



Nov. 18, 1930. G. sPlEss 1,782,323

CROSS FOLDING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1927 4 SheetsSheet 1 n ven to):

Nov. 18, 1930. SPIESS 1,782,323

CROS S FOLDING MACHINE FiledApril 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /n ventor':

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G. SPIESS CROSS FOLDING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 8'.

/n veniol': r 15 can also be used efficiently for folding small Patented Nov. 13, 1930 UNITED STA enom srms's, or nnxrzxe rmewrrz. GERMANY.

'OBQSS-FOLDING MACHINE Application filed April 25, 1927, Serial No. 186,838, and in Germany May 7, 1928.

The invention relates to the cutting and cross-folding of sheets, and its object is to increase the rate at which this work can be done.

6 According to the invention the large sheets to be subdivided are fed to the folders and cut lengthwise immediately before or after the first folding operation the cut sheets being cross-folded subsequently. If the cut 0 sheets are all of the same size and shape they are, after the first folding operation, all fed in succession through the same cross-folding devices, and then stacked. If they are of different sizes they are stacked separately 5 after leaving the last folding device.

If the parent sheet is to be cut into only two sheets of different sizes-then by a modification of the process the two sheets are fed, after the first folding operation, to separate folding and stacking devices; obviously those devices must be arranged in pairs. After the first folding operation the cut sheets may be fed by means of separate feeders to a second folder used for both, and then to separate folders for further folding and stacking.

The invention has the advantage that a machine capable of dealing with large sheets sheets, and the capacity of the machine is utilized to good effect because in the course of one sheet folding operation a plurality of sheets of small size are simultaneously folded, without it being necessary to enlarge and multiply the folding mechanism. With sheets whichhave several pages printed on them, the cutting operation in the folding machine has the advantage of ensuring correct alignment of the sheets when folding, and thus securing accurate register. When feeding the sheets into the folding machine the same aligning edges are used as were used for printing, and when the sheets are cut in the folding machine each sheet is accurately aligned with reference to the print, which is never the case when the sheets are cutin stacks, because then the upper sheets are never exactly like the lower sheets, in

regard to the edges subsequently used for registering.

The method of folding according to the invention can be used with any kind of folding mechanism. Particularly suitable are the folding machines with so-called stopplates, whereby. the sheets are buckled, and

then gripped by folding rollers. With a suitable arrangement of the folders and sheet feeding devices, these folding machines permit of so folding the cutsheets that they are delivered with accurate register and correct sequence of pages. A cross-folding machine of this construction only requires the the addition of a longitudinal cutter or cutters in front of, or behind, the first folder, and then the machine can be used in the manner set forth. 'If the original sheet is to be cut into several dissimilar sheets, means are provided in the machine for separately stacking the sheets according to size and shape.

Example of apparatus according to the invention are illustrated in the annexed drawings.

Fig. 1 shows in elevation and Fig. 2 in plan a cross-folding machine which is arranged also for prdducing parallel folds by means of a parallel folding device, which can be put out of operation.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a device for stacking different sheets, in two separate piles, the device being shown in two different positions.

Fig. 5 is a part elevation ofa machine according to Figs. 1 and 2, with the parallel folding device in operative position and the cross-folding device out of operation.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show in front'elevation, plan and side elevation a machine for parallel folding and cross-folding, in which two sheets side by side are fed through a common second folder and then each is fed to its own particular folding and stacking devices.

Fig. 9 shows a portion of Fig. 6 with the second folder omitted.

A feed table for feeding the sheets to the first folder isarranged in the machine frame 1. The feed table consists of a frame 2 with oblique rollers 3, which feed the sheets towards the folders and at the same time urge them laterally against an aligning rule 4. The rollers feed the sheets to a pair of feed rollers 5, by which they are fed through a guide 6 to rollers 7, which together with a stop plate 8, 9 and a roller 10 produce the first fold.

The folding mechanism is rendered capable of parallel folding by providing additional stop plates 11, 12, 13 and rollers 14, 15, 16. From the last pair of rollers 15, 16 the sheet with parallel fold passes through a guide 17 to a pair of delivery rollers 18, which deliver the sheet to a conveyor 19 (Fig. 5).

The last roller 16 and the last stop plate 13 of the parallel folding device, including the intermediate guide 17, are disposed on arms 20 pivoted to the machine frame at 21, and can be swung into a position in which this apparatus is out'of operation (Fig. 1) and the first folding mechanism, i. e. the parallel folding device, can be brought into cooperation with the cross-folding apparatus. The portions of the cross-folding device directly adjacent to the parallel folding mechanism, namely the stop plate and the deflector 23, including a pair of rollers24 disposed in front of the inlet end, which feed the sheets to the folding mechanism producing the first cross-fold, are movably mounted on the machine frame and are placed in the rearward position (Fig. 5)- when the machine is adjusted for parallel folding. In order to adjust the machine for cross-folding, after swinging out the arm 20 with the stop plate 13 and the roller 16, the' parallel folder is made completely or partly inoperative, according to whether plain cross-folding or combined parallel and cross-folding is to be effected. This is done by introducing deflectors into the stop plates 11, 12, or substituting deflectors for them, the first stop plate and deflector 23 being moved into position to cooperate with the pair of rollers 14, 15, and an intermediate guide 22 being inserted (Fig. 1). y

In the example shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 the whole cross-folding device is mounted on a frame disposed laterally on the main frame 1 of the machine, and consists of the stop plate 23, which deflects the sheets and extends over the feed table 2, there being a pair of feed rollers 24 in front of the inlet, receiving the folded sheet from the rollers 14, 15 by way of the guide 22, and feeding it into the stop plate 23. The rollers 24 feed the sheet until it abuts against an adjustable stop 25, along which the sheet is fed at right angles to its previous direction of travel by pairs of oblique bevelled rollers 26,- to a laterally disposed folder, which produces the first cross-fold. This folder consists, as is usual, of three rollers 27 and a stop plate 28. As it leaves the folding rollers the cross-folded sheet passes on into a sheet guide 29, which deflects it by means of a stop 30 and obliquely mounted rollers 31, and the cross-folded sheet is fed at right angles to its previous direction of travel to a folder consisting of three rollers 32 and a stop plate 33. This folder produces a fold transverse to the last fold. Upon leaving this folder the sheet is delivered to a conveyor 36 by means of a deflcctor 34 and a roller.35 coacting with the roller 32.

The conveyor 36 extends transversely to the direction of the sheets from the last folder and also transversely to the feed table 2, below the outer end of the same.

The pair of rollers 24 constitute a longitudinal cutting device, a circular knife being fixed to one of them, and the other havin a circular groove, and by this means, the fo ded sheet coming from the first folding device is cut longitudinally. The two halves of the sheet, each having a fold or folds, are fed without loss of time to the cross-folding device 27, 28. The cross-folded sheets follow each other into the deflectin guide 29 at a distance of half the width 0 a single sheet.

Sheets can thus be dealt with having two similar pages printed on them side by side. If, on the other hand, sheets with two different pages printed on them side by side are to be folded in this machine, means must be provided for delivering the sheets to two separate piles. 1

' Such a device is shown by way of example in Figs. 3 and 4. In front of the delivery rollers 32, 35 of the last foldin a sheet feeding and receiving levice is arranged on the outlet side, consisting of two conveyor bands 37, 38 and guide plates 39; all carried by and mounted upon a frame which is rotatable about the axis of one of the rollers 40 of the conveyor band 38, so that the guide plate 39 can be made to face the rollers 32, 35, or can be rocked out of the way. In the first case the sheets delivered by .the folding rollers 32, 35 are fed between the bands 37, 38 and deposited and stacked by these bands on the outer half of the wider remechanism ceiving band 36, while in the second case the a 37, 39 in position for deposit of the sheets on the outer conveyor 44,-and 4 shows it in position for deposit of the sheets on the inner conveyor 43.

Correct folding and stacking ofsheets differently printed can also be attained by arranging the entire cross-folding device and conveyors side by side on each side of the machine and arranging the rollers 26 0f the deflecting guide on one half with inclination to the right, and on the other half with inclination to the left. The receiving bands are arran ed in this case to travel in the di rection 0 the discharge of the sheets from the last folder.

In the example shown in Figs. 6 to 9 the parallel folding device extends downwardly at the end of the feed table. As the sheet issues from the last pair of rollers .14, of the parallel folding mechanism the sheet, which maybe once folded or several times folded, is led' by a guide 22 between the rollers 24 of the longitudinal cutter. The cut sheets are fed through separate guides 45, 46 to two separate deflecting guides 48, 49, which are disposed below the feed table 2. Stops 50, 51, with pairs of feed rollers 52, 53 for feeding of the folded sheets at right angles to their previous direction of travel to the cross-folder 54, are disposed in both the deflecting guides, opposite each other and substantially along the length of the sheets. Both' sheets are fed to thecross-folder 54 through guides 55, 56. They are side by side, but follow one another in the direction of travel at a distance. In this respect the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 9 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the sheets pass to the cross-folder in series one behind the other. 1

During their further travel the sheets, having been once cross-folded, pass right and left through their respective guides 57, 58 to deflecting guides 59, 60, which guide them to separate cross-folders 61, 62 arranged on the right and left of the machine. The sheets to be fed transversely across the machine to the folder 62, are transferred by a guide 58 to a feed track 63, 64 extending transversely through-the machine, the said track delivering them to the guide on the other side of the machine. Conveyor bands 65, 66 are arranged below the last cross-folders, parallel to the feed table 2, and on these bands the folded sheets are stacked.

Thus even large sheets with two different sets of printed pages can be folded in rapid succession as in the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and the sheets are properly .sorted.

It will be understood that the machine can be designed for cutting the sheets into more than two parts.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. The method of folding sheets, which consists in folding an undivided sheet, cutting the folded undivided sheet transverse to the fold into smaller folded sheets, feeding the smaller folded sheets to a common cross-folder and cross-folding the same, and then feeding the sheets so cross-folded to another crossfolder and further thereby.

cross-folding the same 2. In a, folding machine, a folder, a feeder for feeding an undivided sheet to the folder, a cutter for longitudinally dividing the sheet,

said cutter and folder being arranged to successively operateupon the sheet in a desired order, means for cross-folding the smaller sheets delivered from the cutter and ,folder, and treatment devices for acting upon the cross-folded sheets on opposite sides of the 2 line of division.

3. A cross folding machine according to claim 17, wherein two sets of cross-folders are-arranged following the primary foldin mechanism, and feeding devices are provide for directing the halves of cut sheets to conveyors serving said cross-folders respectively. 4. A cross-folding machine according to claim 17, having a plurality of feed devices below one another, adjacent to the first folding mechanism, one for each cut sheet feeding the sheets in succession to a common second 4 folder, separate folders being provided for the further folding of the cut sheets.

5. A cross-folding machine according to claim 17, wherein thestop-plate of a folder is pivoted so that sheets can be delivered alternately to said folder or to aconveyor.

6. The method of folding sheets, which.

thereby, andthen feeding the sheets thuscross-folded a plurality of times to other cross-folders and further cross-folding the same thereby.

8. The method of folding sheets, which consists in folding an undivided sheet, cutting the undivided sheet into divisions of the same sheet, cross-folding the resulting smaller sheets,and feeding the cross-folded smaller sheets respectively located on opposite sides of the line of division in parallel paths to separate further treatment devices.

9. In a folding machine, a folder, a feeder for feeding an undivided sheet to the folder, a cutter for dividing the sheet into smaller folded sheets, and means for feeding the smaller folded sheets in parallel paths and cross-folding the same.

10. In a folding machine, a first folder, a feeder for feedingan undivided sheet to the folder, a cutter for dividing the undivided and folded sheet into smaller folded sheets, and devices for moving the successive folded smaller sheets located on opposite sides of the line of division in parallel paths and crossfolding the same.

llfIn a folding machine, a first folder, a.

feeder for feeding an undivided sheet to the folder, a cutter for dividing the sheet folded by the action of thefolder into smaller folded sheets, means for moving the successive smaller sheets produced by said cutter in par allel rows, and another cross-folder for action on the rows of sheets delivered from the cutter.

'12. The method of folding sheets, which consists in folding an undivided sheet, dividing the folded sheet into smaller folded sheets, further folding the divided sheets, and separately stacking the respective divisions of the sheets.

13. The method of folding sheets, which consists in folding an undivided sheet, dividing the folded sheet into smaller folded sheets, cross-folding the divided sheets, and

vseparately stacking the respective divisions,

of the sheets. I

14. The method of folding sheets, Wl'lIlCh' consists in folding an undivided sheet a plurality of times in the same direction, dividing the folded sheets into smaller folded sheets, and then feeding the smaller sheets in parallel rowsand cross-folding transversely alined sheets of the rows.

15. The method of folding sheets, which consists in folding an undivided sheet, dividing the folded sheet into smaller folded sheets, feeding the divided sheets in separate .roWs, folding the sheets of the rows, and separately stacking the sheets of the rows. I U 16. In a folding machine, a folder, a feeder for feeding an undivided sheet to the folder,

a cutter-for longitudinally dividing the sheet, said cutter and folder being arranged to successively operate upon the sheet in a desired order, and means for feeding the cut sheets in parallel rows and cross-folding transversely alined sheets of the rows.

17. A buckling-folder machine for crossfolding sheets having in combination a first folder and a plurality of cross folders, means for cutting a sheet in a determined order with relation to the action of the first folder, means for conducting all the sheets to the first cross-folder, and means for stacking divisions of the original sheets in separate piles.

18. A cross-folding machine according to claim 17, wherein the cut sheets pass through the same cross-folder, and means are provided for stacking them in separate piles.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

GEORG SPIESS. 

